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Swyn Song|| Water Birds

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An Affair to Remember

After Valentine’s Day ends, Daisy and Amelia have a little bit of downtime…

[Dear God, this took so long]

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delightfully-daisy:

Daisy edged her bike down a familiar path, one of the many country roads that led out of Swynlake, one that Amelia would recognize. It was funny, too, that this particular road curved back towards London, where they’d find themselves so soon. It was the same road they’d shared their first, actual, in real life kiss on, thought little did they know at the time it would be the one they drove down as they left Swynlake.

Not yet, though. The future was about to start, but not yet.

She pulled the bike over to the same little offshoot and coasted it to a stop. The sun was set deeper now, the sky tinged with pinks and oranges. Daisy swung a leg off, then extended a hand to Amelia to help her off the bike.

“I thought it would be nice to return to where we started,” she said, looking out over the top of the gentle hill onto what parts of the town that they could see. Her hand was still in Amelia’s and she laced their fingers together, giving a small squeeze, then leaned in a little closer.

This little spot was their beginning. It was now also their ending – not their ending, of course, but the ending of the chapter of Daisy-and-Amelia-in-Swynlake. It was time for Part 2 of their tale, and then it would be time for Part 3, and why, Daisy was certain there were going to be many more beyond that.

She lifted Amelia’s hand to her lips and kissed it.

“I am going to miss this place,” she said softly, looking at Amelia now. “But I think – no. I know. I know I’m ready to leave now.”

It was strange that in such a precarious situation (a motorbike swerving through backroads with only a helmet as her protection from the unforgiving road beneath) Amelia found herself feeling utterly relaxed and at home. Like she’d finally found her place and no matter the circumstances, on the back of this bike was where she was meant to be.

Of course, she immediately recognized the spot Daisy had pulled to a stop at. Grasses and hills and all, it looked just the same as it had all those months ago, except now it was bathed in the sun’s setting light. It seemed even more beautiful than it had before. She pulled the helmet off her head before taking Daisy’s hand and swinging over the bike easily to stand beside her, squeezing back in response to the previous squeeze. She looked from the sunset to look at the blonde next to her. Blue eyes reflecting the purple and orange light in the most breathtaking way. At the kiss to her hand, she mimicked the gesture, lips pressing to her girlfriend’s knuckles softly as she spoke, eyes looking to hers.

“I’ll miss the quiet of it all. London isn’t exactly the most tranquil of locations. But as for everything else, we’re taking far more from this place with us than we realize.” Everything seemed to just fit into place with Daisy. Life. Career. All of it. She’d even gotten all sentimental at Jane’s wedding about the future. Her future. Their future. All the pieces just all fell into place and worked as the most efficient vessel she’d ever encountered. They’d face rough seas ahead, undoubtably so. But with a vessel like theirs and the effort they could both put forth? It could conquer the biggest maelstrom life could fathom.

The former captain looked out into the sunset, a small smirk appearing on her lips as her words flowed forth without prompting. “I hope you know how ardently I love and adore you, darling. And if you don’t, well then, I’ll just have to try harder, won’t I?” 

Swyn Song|| Water Birds

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delightfully-daisy:

It was the golden hour in Swynlake, the sun at that perfect angle in the sky that everything was washed in a warm glow. Their figures cast long shadows across the gravel driveway and Daisy thought about how if she still wrote stories for herself, she’d turn this moment now into part of a story, for it was a perfect moment – a setting sun, a chapter closing.

She squeezed Amelia’s hand, their fingers interlocked.

“It’s the perfect sunset, isn’t it?” Daisy gushed as they reached her bike. “It’s like – like a poem or something. The sun setting on our last evening. The start of something new hanging in the air.” She reached for her helmet, which was slung over one of the handle bars, and then popped open the trunk for the other one, handing it over to Amelia. “Look at us – it’s like a story book, Amelia.” She fastened on her own helmet then made sure Amelia’s was tightened as well, taking the moment to look her deep in the eyes.

“Well – let’s get to it then,” she said and swung a leg over the bike, kicking off the stand and revving it up. She waited for Amelia to get on, holding her tightly, before she put the bike into full gear and drove out of the driveway.

The roads out of the Woods were twisting and turning, lined with trees that gave way to the rolling English countryside. The sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled light onto the road ahead of them, and Daisy edged the bike along faster, the wind hitting her face, her heart thrumming and feeling as golden as the light.

“I think every life is essentially a story book, darling. And every book, a life. But this one I actually want to read and find out what happens next.” The former captain gave a small little amused smile, that slight mischievous, excited twinkle she got even now and then appearing in her eyes before slipping the helmet (which was now hers, officially, at least in her mind it was because she wouldn’t be sharing the back of Daisy’s motorcycle with anyone without a fight). She took the moment to look back at the blonde in front of her. It was truly amazing how she’d grown before her eyes in the last year. She was achieving all she wanted and all she had set out to do which really is all anyone could ask for and in the meantime, found a slightly damaged sea captain and managed to give her hope for new experiences and healing. Her girlfriend certainly did enjoy overachieving goals. 

Amelia swung her leg over the bike, scooting up enough so her body pressed up against Daisy’s back as her arms held tightly to her waist. They were off now. Scenery of old roads and parts of town they were leaving behind blending into various colors and streaks as they rode on. 

You know, though Amelia abhorred most cliches, it takes one to know one. Amelia had found her own captain, the one who sailed right through her heart, through stormy pasts and old ghosts guarding what had been hidden behind a labyrinth of twists and turns and monsters lurking behind corners. And though the girl had known all of this, Daisy had succeeded in her task, her labor. A labor of love that only someone who could masterfully navigate the trifecta of Amelia’s mind, body and soul, could achieve. 

For the first time in what seemed like centuries ago, Amelia Smollet was happy. Truly, undoubtedly, jovial.  This wasn’t to say they didn’t have their spats and quarrels over meaningless topics such as plans and furniture and social events, oh no, they had and would have quite grisly ones usually ending in Amelia admitting some sort of fault in the matter. To feel love again, because that’s what she felt, she knew that to be entirely true, if nothing else, was something even her most extensive vocabulary couldn’t describe. 

Swyn Song|| Water Birds

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delightfully-daisy:

Daisy’s blush deepened still, and she shook her head, some loose ends of her bun falling near her face. Crossing her arms over her chest, she titled her head up, rolling her eyes slightly, but smiled at Amelia.

“Everything is taken care of,” she said, simply. “The movers will be coming tomorrow and then we will be leaving the day after. They will be taking my bike tomorrow, however, which is most certainly a pity, because I do adore that drive – “

Mrs. Harcourt clucked her tongue.

“Dangerous, dangerous, dangerous,” she said, busying past the two women, and wagging her finger. She turned to Amelia. “You’re going to have to keep this one out of trouble.” She nodded, a curt little nod that both Lillian and Daisy had inherited, and then walked into the sitting room to catch up on her shows.

Daisy let out a little huff, then turned to Amelia.

In two days they would be leaving. It would be the two of them, together. They were jumping right into it and Daisy – Daisy who planned everything, Daisy who always had doubts, Daisy who wibbled and wobbled on every decision, who delayed making them just so she could make the right one, who changed her mind, who worried that she’d be doing everything wrong – Daisy had never felt so sure of anything in her life.

That was certainly funny. She was never certain before.

“We should go for a ride,” she said, reaching for Amelia’s hand. “A last ride through Swynlake – maybe up to the forest, by the old farms? Those lonely roads are so quaint.”

We can say goodbye, she thought, squeezing Amelia’s hand a little tighter.

Amelia couldn’t help but smile and then nod very seriously to the older woman as she began to excuse herself to the other room, calling after her, “Ringing sterling and clear as ever, Mrs. Harcourt. I’ll keep her to the highest standards of safety, I assure you.” 

The former captain smirked at the now huffy girl in front of her, amused as ever and finding it all too cute a look on her. She squeezed the hand in hers, tugging Daisy just a tiny smidge closer to her. “Luring me away again, can’t help yourself can you?” She teased with a wink, “Not even when you’ll surely be sick of my face by the end of the week dwelling in the same space.” She loved to tease and prod Daisy ever so slightly, toeing the line between Daisy rolling her eyes at her and actually being indignant. But, it did have a hint of truth to it, they’d never truly been in each other’s spaces for more than a couple days (and that was the London trip where they were constantly out sight seeing or preparing for her interview). Now there’d be no buffer between them. No safety net of returning to their own apartment if something should go awry. Despite all this, Amelia wouldn’t change her mind about doing this. It was right. There would most likely just be a large adjustment period which she was mentally preparing herself for.

Though her words hadn’t exactly told Daisy she’d like to go on their ride, she was already leading her out towards the bike by the hand. “You know, I seem to recall our first truly genuine kiss beginning in this manner. Feeling quite nostalgic aren’t we, darling.” They reached the bike in the driveway and now that they were out of the house, Amelia pulled Daisy in by the hand and placed a kiss to her lips, fingers running into blonde locks as her other hand squeezed hers gently between them. 

Swyn Song|| Water Birds

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

Until yesterday I basically assumed we weren’t gonna work out. What’s her name? It’s not like that. What’s his name? It’s not like that either.

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

delightfully-daisy:

The past five years of Daisy Canard’s life was packed up in boxes. They were labeled, of course, since that was what Daisy did best. Packing was not as terrible as some made it out to be. After all, in Daisy’s mind everything had its place and packing was simply a physical manifestation of that.

Most of the boxes were in a spare bedroom in her grandparents’ estate. She stood there now, hands on her hips, hair whisked up in a ponytail, surveying her weeks’ worth of work. WINTER SHOES were set atop CLASSIC BOOKS which was right next to DÉCOR : BEDROOM which was underneath OLD MAGAZINES and next to PHOTOGRAPHS. These were the things she was bringing with her, carefully chosen from her time in Swynlake. There were things she threw away, of course, (an old pair of boots too worn out; her last semester’s assignments; a perfume bottle that was nearly empty) and there were things that she wanted to hold onto, but knew she must get rid of (her favourite jacket that had a tear in the arm; her bedsheets and comforter spread, for they were growing older; the dress she had worn on that night in September).

And there were things that would stay in the boxes, that she would bring with her, but not open.

(You can imagine some of those things, I believe, though she did not want to think about them right now).

Sunlight streamed through the window, dust particles suspended in the glow of the afternoon.

Daisy still did not know if she was ready; she felt more ready than she ever had before, but still, if she could stay here, waiting in the golden light of this room – just stay here in that capsule of anticipation, before anything could go wrong – she would prefer that.

But she had to go.

She lingered though, arms crossed over her chest.

“Daisy!” The voice snatched her from her reverie and she turned, stepping out of the room, back into the hallway, following the call downstairs. “Your lady caller is here!”

Despite herself – despite the fact that she was moving in with Amelia in just a week or so – Daisy felt her cheeks flush and a smile creep onto her face. She strode down the stairs to find Amelia waiting in the entry hall, talking to a beaming Mrs. Harcourt.

“Good afternoon,” said Daisy, stopping a few steps up, her cheeks still pink and her smile still wide. “It is quite very lovely to see you.”

Amelia was greeted with an all too happy Mrs. Harcourt. She’d been quite excited that the two of them had been seeing so much of each other. Really, no one seemed to have any qualms about their relationship in the slightest from any side. Her parents were not only thrilled that she’d managed to secure someone like Daisy Canard but that she’d be returning closer to home and closer to them.

“Lovely to see you as always Mrs. Harcourt.” Daisy’s grandmother called upstairs for her. Her girlfriend no doubt was still organizing every last detail. “Lady caller? I rather like that.” The blonde smiled at the older woman and gave a wink. “My Aunt says hello and if you should need company now that both her home and yours are vacated and empty, you’re always welcome to tea. As you know, she’s a touch dramatic at times, but I’m passing along the message regardless.”

Amelia couldn’t help the smile that crossed her features as Daisy strode down the stairs looking as striking as ever. “I can’t think of a moment where it wasn’t an absolute pleasure to see you as well, Daisy.” She took a few steps forward, looking up at the woman who’d enraptured her in a whirlwind of energy that could only belong to her. It was one of those rare moments where Daisy was actually taller than her and she found it quite amusing. “Have you remembered to breathe?” She teased lightly, “Not that I don’t enjoy the look of your cheeks turning a rosy pink when you’re stressed or anxious but I can assure you, everything in this move of ours is as it should be.” She was talking about the details of the move, but she was also talking about her decision to move with her in case any reassurance was needed. Her job now was to ease her partner’s worries in all of this (and if you knew Daisy, she could have quite a few).

Swyn Song|| Water Birds

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Swyn Song|| Water Birds

It had been a whirlwind of events and packing and goodbyes and apartment searches and furniture shopping and marriages the last couple months and Amelia was finally glad to be rid of most of it. Jane’s wedding was beautiful. She’d been proud of be part of it. Amelia’s goodbyes weren’t truly so because she’d come back to visit her Aunt, Anita was certainly no stranger to London either so they’d see each other again, and Jane was always welcome to visit London no matter where adventure took her in life.

So truly, the bane of Amelia’s existence in the last week had been going through what she’d deemed fitting to bring with her to the next phase of her life (and fit into closets she’d have to share with Daisy and her extensive wardrobe that would no doubt grow once they got there) and scheduling the movers. But once all that had finished and the movers were out of sight, already on their way to the London flat, she could finally begin to look at the town she was leaving and reflect on all she’d been given through living here. She was moving in with another woman for bloody sake (one her parents were thrilled to hear about). Things had changed for her.

The captain walked through the neighborhood of large houses one last time as she approached Daisy’s grandparent’s home. Clad in her usual leather jacket, dark pants and ankle boots, she passed by Daisy’s bike in the driveway and knocked on the large door, before standing up straight with her hands in her jacket pockets.

@delightfully-daisy

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

So, you’re saying, you like me. That’s what I got. Of course.

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Something Borrowed || Jane&You

Jane: Well, I will most definitely stop on by for a cup of tea once or twice or maybe a dozen times.

Amelia: We'll save you your very own cup and place at our table then

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

Something Borrowed || Jane&You

Jane: I will most definitely write you -- and the traditional way too, with lovely stationary and wax seals.

Jane: Okay, perhaps not the wax seals, but still.

Jane: You have been an invaluable companion in my time here.

Jane: I will miss you, but London is grand and just a hop skip away.

Amelia: That would be lovely. Wax seals or not. Perhaps I'll personalize them as well, there are quite a few brilliant stationary shops in London

Amelia: You as well, no matter how small you think your influence may be, it has stayed with me all along the way

Amelia: Seems as though we've got nothing but time then, Jane. Our home is always welcome to you.

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Something Borrowed || Jane&You

Jane: Then -- I will have a cutlass at my wedding.

Jane: Thank you very much.

Jane: For, ahem, guiding me through this storm.

Jane: To take a page out of your metaphor book.

Jane: Also -- congratulations on your most recent relationship endeavor. Once again, of course, I do believe I squealed enough in person.

Amelia: Very well. Sending off e-mails as we speak to get it here post haste

Amelia: I've been quite fortunate to be at your side through this all. I consider it an honor to witness your personal tempest, Jane Porter. I do hope through all of these spatial and situational changes we remain in contact. Perhaps we'll take up our old pen pal mantle.

Amelia: Thank you. And yes, you did, but I did nothing to stop it because if I had the capability to squeal as you did I would have been doing so as well.

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

Something Borrowed || Jane&You

Jane: Wow, imagine getting married with a cutlass.

Jane: That's not terribly weird is it? I feel like I'd be more at ease which is a ridiculous thing to say considering I have no actual attachment to cutlasses.

Amelia: First, I believe your heart has always been quite taken with adventure, Jane. It storms into battle, dragging you along with it.

Amelia: Seconds, I think we all enjoy a little security in our moments of great leaps and moderate uncertainty, whether we intend to

Amelia: So to have a borrowed item with you to provide both those would ultimately just seem natural for you

Amelia: Additionally it would let Dr. Thatch know I'm well stocked with ammunition for his torture, if he should plan to deviate from the predetermined course of providing you utter love and happiness

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

Something Borrowed || Jane&You

Jane: I know your stuff's mostly packed, but have you got a bracelet or something I could borrow.

Jane: Or something more exciting.

Jane: A naval pin! No that's disrespectful.

Jane: Oh, you haven't got a cutlass, have you?

Amelia: Not with me.

Amelia: At our family home in Surrey we have a few. I could have it sent down, if you'd like.

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

Something Borrowed || Jane&You

Jane: Ok, I've got something old and I will buy something new and I can definitely get something blue, but it's the borrowed thing.

Jane: I don't even know who to ask, who should I ask...no one even /knows/

Jane: This is a silly tradition, why am I fretting?

Amelia: A tradition is only as silly as you believe it to be, Jane

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

delightfully-daisy:

What Daisy had wanted to do was tell Amelia that all her previous romantic endeavors had only ended in terrible heartbreak and that there must be something deeply wrong with how she had done things in the past. You see, Daisy thought often of her past mistakes and patterns, fancying herself to be the heroine in a romantic novel as she was prone to doing on rainy days when she sat indoors with a book that she had read a couple of times (the crease in the spine well and worn) and gazed off and out of the window.

She thought of ballgowns and of dancing and of how she had almost two love stories that were almost right out of a book, and she messed the both of those up even though they’d been almost perfectly given to her –

How she didn’t think she deserved any of it, because Amelia hadn’t come into her life like a romance novel. No, she’d come when Daisy was grieving and they’d had a pleasant conversation and then the town had thrown them together once and twice and then—she hadn’t planned any of that, could not plan any of that. It didn’t sound like any book that she’d ever read.

And she was thinking all of this as Amelia spoke and she was going to say it all she was.

But before she could say any of that, Amelia slid across the table and kissed her.

It was a gentle kiss, like butterfly wings, but it was enough to make her sigh and to make her heart flutter.

And she realized – why, it didn’t need to be like all of the stories she read. That was the beauty of it all, wasn’t it? This was their own very special story, one they would write together and, oh goodness, Daisy was blushing like mad right now as Amelia touched her forehead closer and Daisy linked their fingers together.

Her blush only deepened and she giggled, the sound bubbling out of her like a fountain.

“My girlfriend,” she said, bringing Amelia’s fingers to her lips. “My partner. My—oh my Amelia.” She squeezed her hand. “Come with me to London. Please. You can’t say no now, we’re dating.”

They didn’t need to be a fairytale. They didn’t need to be two starcrossed lovers. Amelia certainly didn’t intend on being anyone’s knight in shining armor, as regal and powerful as she may be. She needed to rescue herself as well. From the looks of it, they needed to rescue each other and themselves at the same time, but not in an overwhelming sort of way. In the way that gradually, through time and love and nurturing and let’s not forget effort, old wounds may finally heal over. One moment you know its there and the next you can’t remember the exact turning point to where it no longer was. They’d make the healing process not so daunting, loathsome and tedious for one another. 

Daisy was unlike any woman who’d ever captured her attention. Truthfully, she was exactly the woman her mother would have set her up with and in her younger years she found herself rebelling against such notions of finding women her mother would approve of. But with Daisy, everything had just fallen so effortlessly into place that she couldn’t ignore it. Cut out the bits of alternate universes and their alien child and their story was rather boring and mundane. 

But in that way, that’s perhaps what they truly needed in their lives. They needed something sturdy to support the weight of their lives changing so drastically. Daisy would go on to do great things and Amelia would be inspired to follow her lead finally, perhaps even return to her home and reenter the society of the elite with her family. 

Amelia’s boat had been rocked and now all she needed was someone to steady herself against. She understood Daisy, in all of her endearing quirks and obsessions. She truly felt she knew her and in that she got what she was looking for. Some may turn their noses up at what was the “safe” choice. But the safe choice and the right choice can be one in the same. Daisy was anxious, she needed someone who wouldn’t add to that anxiety, someone with a sterling record of being trustworthy and dependable in the face of all odds. And Amelia could provide her with whatever structure she needed to create the world she so desired. She’d be happy to just watch it from afar, let alone be part of it.

“My darling Daisy...” She chuckled softly, such a giddy, exciteable schoolgirl her newly labeled girlfriend was at times wasn’t she? Positively adorable. Sickeningly so. She leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek, the hand not clasped in Daisy’s tucking blonde hair back from her face. “Suppose I can’t let someone else show you around London now, can I?” Her smile grew, one that was genuine. Of genuine happiness and not just polite acknowledgement.

“Especially now that we’re dating, it would be incredibly improper for me to not escort you to this interview and show you all your new life in London could be, wouldn’t it?” 

Put the Kettle On || Water Birds

[captain-ameliasmollet-blog]

Daisy did not know where to begin. In that space of time after she spoke and before Amelia did, she had already concocted a dozen and a half scenarios where the conversation ahead veered into disastrous territory. One where Amelia’s lip curled at her story, another where she simply laughed. And more and more and Daisy felt her chest tighten and she thought perhaps she ought to bite back on her words and make something up.

But Amelia spoke and that tightness in her chest relaxed somewhat. Not all the way, mind you, but enough for her to steady her breathing. And by the time Amelia had lifted Daisy’s hand to her lips, Daisy’s chest felt tight in a completely different way.

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Amelia, of course, knew that Daisy was very particular about things. She liked things organized. She’d seen her actual closet and linen closet after all, it was something she found rather adorable to be honest. She didn’t know she was seeing anyone for it though. It was good to know. Amelia liked to go into situations prepared and ready for battle. If she knew the waters ahead were particularly rough, she’d know the way in which to navigate them best and wouldn’t be caught unawares. 

To be quite honest, hearing Daisy having to go to therapy as well, made her feel like she wasn’t quite so alone in this relationship. They both had their problems. Deep problems, but they were taking the correct steps in bettering themselves and they’d do the same to better each other.

“Not silly at all. I see my therapist every Wednesday, actually. And I’ll gladly stay awake with you all night, Daisy. Maybe it’ll help the both of us. Blasted if I know the last time I slept soundly.” She was making light of it, of course. But she didn’t have the best track record in sleeping through a night terror. However, she did remember the last time she slept soundly through the night and woke up rested, perhaps that was something to share. Perhaps it would make her feel sillier and all together soft and foolish. “Well... actually, the last time I did was--well, it was with you. And I remember waking up, not quite knowing whether it was all a dream or some sort of reality but you were just laying there and for some reason (not just the fact that the universe and circumstances were entirely peculiar) everything felt as it should.” She pursed her lips slightly glancing at the table cloth before looking back at Daisy, “Who knows, perhaps you’ll get the best sleep of your life before that interview in London.”

She kept her hand on Daisy’s, her fingers running along the back of her hand and wrist, “And what kind of person would I be to not accomodate someone as beautiful, talented and honest as you, Daisy Canard?” 

She sighed softly, a bit annoyed at the table separating them right now. Well, no one was around and Evelyn would live. “Tea ettiquette be damned, its all blasted to hell anyways after this.” She muttered with a smirk before she pulled her hands from Daisy’s and slid her chair around to Daisy’s side of the table. She leaned over, pressing a soft, sweet kiss to Daisy’s lips, fingers threading through her hair ever so slightly before she pulled away. “Because neither of us seems to have been deterred by the sharing of new information, suppose we’ll be absolute wrecks together then. I think if we combine favorable attributes we may actually make one put together person.” 

She touched her forehead to Daisy’s, small smile playing on her lips as she spoke, “Perhaps that’s why we work so well. We have the same ideals. Same way of life. But our methods in going about that differ, as do our pitfalls. However--” Amelia actually laughed at herself this time, “Feel free to stop me from talking at anytime. I can be rather descriptive in sharing my thoughts. Has been known to ruin a moment or two where words weren’t exactly necessary. I bestow it as your right as my--partner? Girlfriend? Significant other?” She snorted slightly, tone entirely teasing, “Think my parents might actually throw me a parade when they find out I’ve been accomodating someone they approve of, let alone, Lillian Canard’s daughter. Let’s just say I had a rebellious phase.”

Put the Kettle On || Water Birds